Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)
This distortion assumes you know what someone else is thinking without them saying it.
What is mind reading?
Slamming doors when angry is an example of this defense.
What is displacement?
A healthy coping skill you can use instead of yelling when triggered.
What is deep breathing / walking away / journaling / grounding?
Writing three things you’re thankful for daily builds this practice.
What is gratitude?
Identifying what truly matters most in your life is called knowing your ____.
What are values?
When you believe if one bad thing happens, everything else will be ruined.
What is catastrophizing / all-or-nothing thinking?
The inventor of cotton candy was actually this profession by trade.
What is a dentist?
The term for anger expressed in indirect, subtle ways like sarcasm.
What is passive-aggressiveness?
Lack of sleep negatively impacts these three things: mood, focus, and _____.
What is energy?
This chemical is released during exercise, laughter, or anything that reduces pain and boosts pleasure.
What is endorphins?
Predicting the future negatively without evidence is known as this distortion.
What is fortune telling?
Refusing to admit a drinking problem is a classic defense mechanism. Also, a river in Egypt.
What is denial?
Recognizing and writing down triggers, beliefs, and responses is called an Anger _____.
What is an Anger Inventory?
The official animal of Scotland isn’t real — it’s this mythical creature.
What is a unicorn?
This hormone promotes bonding, trust, and connection, often called the “love” or “cuddle” chemical.
What is oxytocin?
Believing emotions equal facts, like “I feel worthless, so I must be worthless.”
What is emotional reasoning?
When you act the opposite of how you really feel, you’re using this defense.
What is reaction formation?
The word for the fear of long words is ironically this long itself.
What is hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia?
This quadrant of the Johari Window represents what you know about yourself and others also know.
What is the open / arena quadrant?
In 1932, Australian soldiers waged a war against these large, flightless birds — and lost.
What are emus?
This animal can’t burp, vomit, or fart — making Taco Tuesday, for them, a dangerous gamble.
What is a horse?
Going back to childlike behaviors like hiding or pouting under stress is this defense.
What is regression?
Using “I” statements, like “I feel frustrated when…”, is a way to do this in communication.
What is assertive communication / expressing anger healthily?
When you anticipate a stressful situation, pause to evaluate reality and plan your response — this two-step strategy can help manage your emotions.
What is checking the facts and coping ahead?
Protecting your time, energy, and emotional well-being while living according to your values is called this.
What are boundaries?